Anyone else about to start IVF?

Kool fantastic news, well done sweets! I shall be thinking of your little kools and DH has promised a special waggle dance later . On that subject, can you believe he looked waggle dance up and read me a whole article on bees 'waggle dance' activities.

Teds my drug delivery is booked for Monday, am SO excited, how strange eh!

A big Greek hello to everyone else, hope you're all having a good week. Welcome to the newbies, this is a great thread with lots of lovely, helpful ladies.

Teds just read that article - very very interesting indeed, thank you so much for going to the trouble of finding it xx

Thanks Teds that article looks very interesting, I've printed it off to go in my 'file of random information'. And thanks also to all you other ladies that have helped in my rapid IVF education.

Was badgering DH last night to read up on it and he was of the opinion that we just wait to see what the Consultant says and do what he tells us. My view was that I wanted to have read as much background stuff as I could so that we could ask the most sensible questions when we were there and understand as much as we can of what he tells us. Also, it's not like you can nip back in and see the consultant - especially while we are still under NHS care so I'm trying to drill into him that we need to squeeze as much info as possible out of every second of our appointment!

Incidentally he did agree with me and dutifully read pretty much the whole of the HFEA website that I had printed off for him last night - what a good boy [hsmile]

This isn't quite the one I was looking for -

www.sharedjourney.com/articles/3vs5.html

But this sets out one Dr's view on blastos. Keep reading down as otherwise you just get one view. There is a similar article which has two Drs giving two different view points, if I find it I'll post. And as I say, there are definately different views on this.

I've become a bit more expert at these things so here goes...

Your embryos can be transferred back on day 2 or 3 after collection or they can be transferred on day 5 when they are called a 'blastocyst' - this is the latest stage of the cells dividing before they 'hatch'. Blastocysts are more likely to become a successful pregnancy but, and there are various schools of thought on this, if your day 2 or 3 embryo is successful then it would have probably made it to 'blasto' stage.

If you get to blasto then, especially if you are under 35, you'll probably only have one embryo tranferred. If it's day 2 or day 3 then you may be more likely to have two put back.

The decision is likely to be based on the number of embryos you get and also the quality of them.

There is a good article someone posted about the differing views on what should be done - I'll try to hunt it out.

Can I ask a potentially silly question. What is 'blast' and what is the difference with ET? Thanks

Owl I can't offer any proper advice as I don't know my left hand from my right here but I can offer you a hug and a . Knowing how stressful ttc is generally I can't even imagine what a rollercoaster IVF is.

Best of luck over the forthcoming days xx

Good news kool. Fingers crossed for you.
How/kool do they decide whether or not to go for blasto?
Thanks carebear, I guess I need to try and be more philosophical about things. Feel that at the moment I'm over-reacting to every piece or news/info.
Good luck to all!

kool that's wonderful news. So very pleased

skitoo my drugs are booked to arrive tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your break and we can hot-flush together next week

Welcome LisaJayne. The Hfea website also has a search facility for clinics near you and you can search for private and NHS 'self-funded' options on there.

That sounds great Kool - good luck for the ET or Blasto (what is that by the way? )

Also, thanks or the link to that we page yesterday - got loads of info off there - very grateful indeed!!

Lisa xx

Thanks Skitoo and Carebear

We got the good news that out of our 10, 8 were injected and 6 fertilised which I feel pretty happy about. So I'm provisionally booked for ET on Saturday but of course hope that I get to blasto ideally (which would be Monday). Quite surreal to think that our teeny weeny Kools are busy doing their thing right now!!

just a quick one from me too i'm afraid to say

Kool, amazing news, well done loveee!

Owl, my dosage was x4 by the end compared to the start so I wouldn't worry. I was told the maximum was x 9 of what i started on

waves everyone else, i'll type more soon having a knackering week at work. x

Just a quickie hug from me for Kool, fab news on eggies - 10 woo Hoo!!!

Teds having a lovely chilled break thanks, so hope to be back and in best poss state for dr starting 22nd, so yes we'll be 'jacking up' together

Sorry not to name check and catch up with everyone else, phone is naff for reading/posting bur great for

Waves to everyone xx

Thanks Kool. We're at the Royal Derby hospital, and I think they have a private facility there too possibly so might be able to stay there for private treatment - but not really sure about what are choices are - that's another question for the consultant!

Hi and welcome Lisa. The HFEA website is really good for info and this page in particular is good for questions. Where are you having your treatment? It sounds as though you've had most (if not all) of your tests done. In answer to what the consultant might suggest, it might be ICSI if there's a motility issue. Good luck

Hi, I just wondered if I could join you ladies? I've been lurking for a while but we are going for our second appt at the fertility clinic on Friday - and we will hopefully get some more details about when we can have a go at IVF. We've been ttc no 2 for 19 mths now and already have DS (not via IVF - got pg reasonably quickly with him). As this would be our second child we'll have to pay for whatever treatment we have so I think it highly likely that we'll end up having a crack at some sort of treatment but we'll see what the Consultant says on Friday to see what sort of thing.

I do hope you ladies are doing ok at all your various stages of your cycles. Do you have any advice as to things we should ask the consultant on Friday? At the moment we are still under the NHS as we are still having tests done.

So far we've had 2 x SA (one low motility, one 'ok' but still to see consultant about that one, CD2 and CD21 blood tests (ok) and a HSG x-ray (ok).

Do you think there are likely to be more tests for us or any idea what the consultant might suggest? Crystal balls at the ready.............

Anyway, take care
Lisa xx

Thanks guys. I guess I'm just experiencing the ivf rollercoaster that I keep reading about!
Fingers crossed for everyone!

FWIW I started in 125ui and ended up on just 75 as I too was heading towards silly amounts of follicles, so we're all different (but all extremely lovely, I might add ).

Also, thought it was worth saying that for the people wondering how much time to take off work at various stages, you prob only need the day for EC rather than 2. I've had a lovely sleep today but just because the bed looked so tempting rather than needing it and I feel absolutely fine.

X posts with Teds, hopefully we've set your mind at rest Owl I remembered that a nurse kept saying to me that quality was far more important that quantity...remember our thread mantra...."It only takes one!" Can I also add (including the tweaks by Teds) "FFS Just do it"!!

Thanks Teds! Glad you had a good appointment. I'm sure they'll be choosing the best dose for you, remember they can alter it at any time depending on your bloods and scans. Garden gave me the drug company's number so if you're getting worried about them not arriving, I can PM you with it. I'm sure it'll be fine though. Now I hope you didn't have to go back to work and that you're now at home with your feet up!

Owl please try not to worry, I did have more follicles than that but that raised concerns of its own as I was at risk of OHSS. Remind me what day of stims you're on? I think it's perfectly normal for your dose to be changed as you go, it shows that you're being well monitored and that they're tweaking you to get the best possible outcome. And plus, slow and steady wins the race! I've not been going to the Zita West clinic (although have been reading her book, listening to her CD and taking her vitamins....a sucker? Moi?!) but my acupuncturist trained and worked there a few years ago and as she'll be away for my ET she recommended I went to the Zita clinic. I'm having my IVF at Guys and don't really fancy traipsing around before and after transfer (I know they can't fall out, but still!) but London Bridge to Bond St is pretty easy and seeing as I've started acupuncture I kind of want to see it through for the important bit!

owl I'm no expert but I wouldn't worry about the dose being 'upped'. Do you have any indication of how big the 14 follies were? If some of them are a little smaller then a higher dose will ensure more of them are nice and big and full of eggies by EC.

I'm going to be a 'poor responder' so I'm going to start on a dosage of 300ui and we're hoping for a best case scenario of about 6 follies in total. Both kool and GP started on lower doses than you as they were at risk of OHSS - I think GP might have had 50 follies at one point but may be misremembering . I also think Care had her dose upped in the final days to push her follies over the line. But they will all hopefully be able to tell you a little more.

So, my very unexpert advice, would be to say there are lots of different responses out there and your's sounds like it's somewhere in the middle. Hope that stops a bit of the worry.

kool - 10 sounds like a great number to me. Are you going to the Zita WEst clinic for acupuncture? I'm wondering which hospital you're at.

Teds - I'm sure your ovaries aren't wrinkly just yet!

After my scan and blood results the hospital called me back to increase my menopur dose from 225ui to 300ui. I was a bit disappointed as I thought 14 follicules was ok, but now I'm wondering if it's poor. Any reassurance would be great!

kool so very pleased! 10 sounds like the perfect number to me and I hope the canapés and champagne are being prepared for the grand meeting of eggs and swimmers Glad you had your Mum to look after you but also that your DH is pleased with how things have gone. Lots of lovely ((())) all round for the kool household today I think x.

Appointment went okay. Nurse was lovely and told me to be positive about the mahoosive doses of stims I'm going to get to get my old wrinkly ovaries going. There was some discussion about what day to start down-regging as I have short cycles but we are sticking to Friday - as long as the drugs turn up!

Aw, you guys all seriously rock! I'm so grateful for your kind thoughts and well wishes, it means so much.

All went really well this morning and they collected 10 eggs. The anaesthetic was lovely! They've decided to do ICSI which I'm happy about, so I'll wait for the call tomorrow to see how things are looking. Was a bit worried last night as my lovely acupuncturist is going to be away for my transfer but she used to work at Zita West and said you can go to the Zita clinic for the pre and
post transfer session so that set my mind at rest.

Teds you really make me chuckle . I'm sure you'll get the pen type injection as that's what people at Guys seem to get. You can see the needle but you don't have to do any syringe filling, it's all in the pre filled syringe. You're so sweet, I really was well looked after today. My mum came with me as it wasn't the right time for my DH but he's feeling quite well and is really pleased with how it has all gone. I wonder if I walked past you in the waiting room today?!! Hope your lesson goes well

Maybe I'm still a bit anaesthetised but I'm feeling a whole lot of (((()))) for all of you lovelies right now! Thanks again Garden, you should be really proud of starting and maintaining such a lovely thread. Thinking of you today xx

Owl, 7 sounds like a really steady amount, great stuff

Very long post. Sorry! Also Bella lovely, amazing news on that heartbeat . Bondi hoping all is well with you too x.

Wow - everyone has been busy!

I arrived in work this morning to find my boss has dumped a project on my desk that was due last Thursday. She's had weeks to work on it and now it's a case of 'Teds, this really must be submitted today, please sort out all the stuff I've failed to sort in two weeks, in, err, two hours...' Anyways, I'm taking that as a cue to look at MN

Care sorry that you've been a bit down xx Like GP also wondering if you have any news on FET?

womanly had AF turned up yet? Think you are waiting on this before you start the next round?

GP sorry to hear that on top of the work stuff your uncle has died Hope that the vet commended you on being a good dog mum and really pleased that you have a positive plan on the work front. Also glad there is movement on the short protocol. Not sure quite how it works but if it might mean EC in mid-August we may end up as EC buddies - fingers crossed for both (all!) of us.

skitoo hope you are having a lovely wonderful break. Are you still on for starting down regs on the 22nd? I'm starting on Friday so we will be down-reg buddies

caramel the injection information is really helpful - though sorry you've had to go through this. I'm really hoping I'm on these pen-things though Also really hoping that all went well with EC yesterday.

Bodeccia luck are you both taking your down regs by injection rather than by sniffing? I is

owl welcome! I think 7 follies on each side sounds like a good response - not too much, not too little.

Welcome Danny glad the first injection went well! I think I'll be adopting the 'just do it' mantra too. Or to be more precise, the 'FFS just stick it in and get on with this awful state of affairs as there isn't anyway round this horrific injection thingy' mantra

Welcome 'New' too. We started off with just male factor too and that meant we have moved through the system relatively quickly. This has been a lovely thread for me and I'm sure it'll still be going in Octobr. Although obviously all of us due to cycle before then will have lovely BFPs by then

Ellan loving the 'splash and dash' - hope Mr Ellan does the business today! We might be drug buddies too? Unless the HPT gave you a surprise this morning?

Welcome Cloclo I'm taking two weeks off that will probably tie in with EC/ET and the start of the 2ww. However, luckily the boss is out of the office for two weeks before this and one week after which definitely makes things less pressurised.

close on choices between IUI/IVF/ICSI for us it was relatively clear so can't be very helpful on this. I think Guys will talk all this through with you at your first appointment.

Finally, Kool really hope all goes well today. Not sure how your DH is at the moment but hope he's able to support you today/share today with you or if not (and don't mean to cause offence by this) hope that all goes well and that Guys treat you like a princess xxx. I shall be in Guys later for my 'this is how you take drugs' session so I'll be the one in the ACU waggle dancing

Finally, finally, I'm quite enjoying this at the moment